China, Pakistan Join Hands for Cotton Research and Innovation
— April 4, 2025
BEIJING (AIA) The Institute of Cotton Research of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICR-CAAS) and Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in Anyang, Henan, China, to deepen collaboration in cotton germplasm innovation, pest-resistant breeding, and cultivation technologies.
Under the agreement, both sides will work together on germplasm collection and identification, pest-resistant variety improvement, joint breeding, and field trials in both countries. The partnership also aims to integrate advanced cultivation techniques to enhance productivity.
Additionally, the collaboration will focus on talent exchange and training, contributing to the development of a China-Pakistan cotton technology community.
During the visit, the Pakistani delegation held academic exchanges with ICR scientists and toured key research facilities, including the National Key Laboratory for Cotton Bio-Breeding. Experts were briefed on China’s advancements in insect-resistant gene editing and cotton germplasm innovation.
Dr Abid Mahmood, Director General Agri. (Research), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, praised ICR’s scientific capacity and expressed interest in leveraging China’s technologies to accelerate agricultural modernisation in Pakistan.
ICR-CAAS, China’s only state-level organisation for professional cotton research, stated that this partnership aligns with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by promoting the global application of China’s agricultural innovations and offering sustainable solutions for the cotton industry worldwide.